Home favourites Nasa Hataoka and Shiho Kuwaki are the co-leaders at the Toto Japan Classic after surging up the leaderboard on day two in Ibaraki.
Another Japanese competitor, Akie Iwai, began the day with a one-stroke lead having fired a brilliant opening round of 63.
But she was reeled in by her compatriots as they head for the weekend.
Kuwaki carded a seven-under-par 65 that lifted her to 14-under overall, while Hataoka sits alongside her thanks to an excellent 66.
Iwai, Mone Inami and Xiyu Lin are two shots adrift of the leaders on 12-under.
Stephanie Meadow is three-under having followed up Thursday's 70 with a one-under 71.
